Aluminum removing wheel



March 1963 R. w. BRYANT 3,079,669

ALUMINUM REMOVING WHEEL Filed March so, 1960 INVENTOR RA YMONO W HRH-4N7@mimm/ ATTORNEY 3,079,669 Patented Mar. 5, 1963 3,079,669 AL REMOVENGWHEEL Raymond W. Bryant, Jackson, Mich assignor of one-half to Jess L.Massingill, Jackson, Mich. Filed Mar. 39, 1960, Ser. No. 18,724 1 Claim.(Cl. 29-78) The invention relates to a metal removing Wheel andparticularly pertains to a revolving wheel of the abrading type whichmay be used with the softer metallic materials, such as muminum, brassor the like.

When removing aluminum or brass, or other similar soft metals, ornonmetals, with a conventional abrasive grinding wheel, the wheel soonclogs up and becomes ineffective for removing metal. This clogging ofconventional abrading wheels is due to the softer materials adhering tothe cutting edges of the abrasive particles and in a short period oftime, the cutting edges, and the voids therebetween, become packed withthe material being worked upon and this occurrence greatly reduces theefficiency of the wheel. This problem does not arise when working withhard metals, such as steel or cast iron, in that the chips of metalremoved by the wheel do not adhere to the cutting edges in the manner ofaluminum or brass, but are thrown clear of the wheel in the form of dustor small particles. To meet the above-mentioned problem when workingwith the softer metals, the grinding Wheel industry has provided agrinding wheel which is much softer than the wheels used with steel.While these special grinding wheels are eifective to remove aluminum,they keep themselves free of the aluminum accumulation by quicklywearing down and thus continually presenting new cutting surfaces. SuchWheels have a very short working life and, hence, become very expensiveto use.

To overcome the above-mentioned problems, the invention employs arotating wheel having teeth defined thereon, which is used in a mannersimilar to a conventional grinding wheel, but is particularly adaptedfor use with alu minum, brass, or similar soft materials. To avoid theaccumulation of the metal being removed upon the wheel, the teeth of thewheel of the invention are self-cleaning and, hence, if removed metaltends to form on the wheel the tooth configuration is such as toactively cause the metal adhering thereto to break off and thus maintainrelatively clean metal removing edges. A metal removing wheel inaccordance with the invention may be made of steel and has a longeifective working life, and may be economically produced.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide an abrading wheelhaving teeth wherein the abrading wheel is self-cleaning and will nottend to accumulate removed metal thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved abrading wheelfor use with aluminum and similar soft materials which is self-cleaningand is capable of producing a very smooth machined surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tooth configurationfor metal removing tools wherein the tooth configuration resists theaccumulation of chips therebetween and produces a smooth metal removedsurface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tooth configuration formetal removing tools wherein the metal removed is scraped, rather thancut, from the article being worked upon, and the chips produced by thescraping action do not interfere with subsequent scraping actions.

These and other objects of the invention arising from the structuralarrangements and details thereof will be apparent from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational perspective view of an embodiment of anabrading wheel in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the abrading wheel of FIG. 1,taken along line II-II,

FIG. 3 is an elevational detailed enlarged edge view of a section of theperiphery of the wheel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an elevational detailed view of enlarged scale of a side ofthe wheel of FIG. 1 adjacent the periphery thereof, and

FIG. 5 is an elevational detailed enlarged edge projection of a sectionof the periphery of another embodiment of abrading wheel in accord withthe invention.

While the description of the invention is primarily directed to anabrading wheel, it will be appreciated that the tooth configurationemployed on the wheel may possibly be used with other metal removingtools with attendant improved results over other known toothconfigurations. As the tooth configuration is particularly adaptable toa rotating wheel tool, its use therein is esspecially advantageous.

Referring to FIG. 1, a wheel 10 in accord with the invention may take asubstantially planar form having a circular periphery. The centralregion or hub 12 of the wheel 10 is preferably of lesser thickness thana rim portion 14 on which the teeth are formed, and a hole 16 is axiallydefined in the wheel for attachment of the wheel to a rotating arbor orspindle. The wheel 10 is preferably constructed of a hardenable steelalloy, and the teeth thereof may be formed by stamping or millingoperations and subsequent hardening of the wheel will insure a long,effective life.

The teeth of the tool are defined on the peripheral portion of the wheelin the rim portion 14. The teeth are formed on both opposite side facesof rim 14 of the wheel as well as on the peripheral edge thereof. Inthis manner, either side of the wheel or the periphery may be used inremoving metal, and often a combination of a side and the periphery aresimultaneously employed. It will be appreciated that the ability to usethe side, as well as the periphery of the wheel, is contrary to therecommended practice with conventional bonded abrasive grinding wheelsof this type wherein it is not recommended that the sides of this shapeof wheel'be used as a working surface for safety reasons. 7

The tooth configuration employed in accordance with the invention isbest shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a similar configuration is used on boththe sides and the periphery of the Wheel 10. The teeth employed by thewheel consist of a plurality of peaks 18 of elongated configurationwherein the surfaces defining the peaks are identical on both sidesthereof. Preferably, the teeth are defined by cylindrically surfacedconcave grooves 20. These grooves intersect the adjacent groove in aline 22 which constitutes the metal removing edge of the tooth. On theperiphery of the wheel, the grooves 20 are disposed in parallelrelationship, and the axes of the cylinders, of which the grooves are aportion, lie parallel to the axis of the wheel hole 16.

The grooves 20 defined on the sides of the wheel It? are radiallydisposed to the wheel, rather than being parallel to each other. Thegrooves formed on the side of the wheel are likewise concave cylindricalsurfaces and the axes of these cylindrical surfaces are disposed at anangular relation to the general plane of the wheel. It will be notedthat the side grooves 20 are related to the peripheral grooves such thatthe edges 22 of the side teeth in tersect a peripheral edge. Referenceis made to FIG. 2 wherein the lines 24 represent the axes of the sidecylindrical surfaces. In disposing the side grooves 20 at this angle, itwill be appreciated that the teeth formed on the side of the wheels areof a greater depth adjacent the periphery of the Wheel than nearer thecenter thereof. It

3 may be noted that the minimum depth of the side teeth, e.g., thatportion of the side teeth closest to the hole 16, is still ofconsiderable depth whereby the entire edge 22 defined by the sidegrooves 20 maybe effectively used'.

It be appreciated, however, that most of the metal removed by this typeof wheel is removed by the teeth formed on the periphery or the portionsof the side teeth adjacent the periphery.

Preferably, to insure a strong tooth, thearcdefining the grooves 20:isless. than one-half of the arc of the periphery of a cylinder whereinthe teeth are relatively stubby rather than being of a long and extendedlength. This relationship will be appreciated from FIG. 4 wherein thecenter of the cylindrical groove 20' is represented at point 26 Theobjects of the invention can be obtained with considerable variationexisting on different wheels between the, distance from the edges 22, asshown in FIG. 4, to the innermost portions of the grooves 20. However,it is important that the depth of the grooves 20 in relation to thetooth edges 22 be such that the material accumulated in the groove on asingle cut does not fill the groove-to the extent that the chip extendsradially .above the edge 22., In the event of such an occurrence, thechip will hold the work piece away from the wheel and, hence, create avery rough andobjectionable machining action.

Theoperation of the wheel is as follows: The wheel 10 is mounted upon arapidly rotating spindle or arbor and thematerial to be reni oved orworked upon is brought intoengagement-with the teeth thereof. The teeth,having a sharp edge 22 will proceed to remove material from the articleby a scraping action, and such action will often deposit a chip? uponthe portion of the grooves 20 adjacent the forward edge of the tooth.Such a, chip is represented at 2'8 inFIG. 4, when the wheel rotates inthe direction of .the :arrow. Soft metals such as aluminum andbrassproduce a chip of indefinite form which amounts t-o'merely aparticle of the aluminum or brass which adheres to the tooth. It is thisadhesion that causes the difficulty when removing soft metals thatrenders conventionalgrinding wheels inadequate.- As the wheel continuesto rotate and the article being worked upon is held in engagement with.theteeth thereof, the accumulation of the material on the wheel tendsto force the chip 28 downwardly along the curve of the grooves 20.Referring to FIG. 4, the chip 28 will tend to move toward the right.This motion of the chip across themcuate surface of the groove 20 tendsto simultaneously weaken the adhesion of the chip to the wheel andcauses the chip to flex, thereby, breaking thechip in. fragments.

,Upon occurrenceot movement. of the chip, the centrifugal force imposedthereon. will throw the chip fragments from the wheel and, hence,maintain the wheel in a relatively clean state at all times. It will beappreciated that the chip formation 28, illustrated in 'FIG. 4, isexaggerated for purposes of illustration, It will also be appreciatedthat this self-cleaning action takes place on the teeth formed on thesides of the wheel in a like manner, as well as on the periphery. r

As the wheel 10- is-rapidly rotated the ,teeth donot cause anobjectionable vibration of the article being worked upon, and ithasbeenfound that the wheel of the invention produces a very smooth surfaceupon the article being machined. This smooth surface is believed to bethe result of the scraping action of the teeth in distinctiontoacuttingacticn as is present with conventional typesof toothedmetal-removing tools havingback clearangles. In the commercialembodiment, a wheel having a maximum diameter of 6" is preferablyprovided with approximately 100 teeth. This number of teeth for thissize'of wheel produces very acceptable results. However, the numberof-the teeth may be increased or reduced if desired, :and the depth andnumber of the teeth can be varied according to the type of work done.

While the teeth edges 22 have beenillustrated in one relationship, itwill be understood that the grooves may be related in parallel relation,but disposed at angles to the plane of the wheel other than those of theembodiment of FIG. 1. For instance, the concept of the invention may bepracticed by disposing the grooves 20 as shown in FIG. 5, wherein theedges 22 are not parallel to the axis of the hole, but are obliquelyarranged thereto. Such a construction has advantages from'a vibrationalpoint of view without departing from'the self-cleaning and clean cuttingaction features of the described teeth. The teeth defined on the side ofhe wheel may likewise be disposed to the Wheel in a direction other thanradially.

'Whil-e the grooves 29 have been described as being of cylindricalconfiguration it is to be understood that other concave :arcuate formswill produce similar results. For instance, a parabolic curve willfunction to keep the wheel free of chips and such a curve having achanging curvature will cause considerable chip fiexure to aid inbreaking the chip into fragments that it may be thrown from the wheel.It is important, however, that there be no abrupt shoulders orcrevicesin the groove that could retain the chip or prevent the movement of thechip along the groove surface. The invention can also be practiced by atooth configuration wherein the longitudinal axis of the groove isarcuate, in such case the metal removing edge would be aircuate ratherthan linear.

It will thus be appreciated that the invention discloses an 'a'bradingwheel for use with aluminum, brass, or other similar soft 'm aterials,which will be. self-cleaning, is capable of very rapid material removal,m aybe economically produced, and ,is safe to use. The wheel has beenfound to be very acceptable in machining rubber and will rapidly removerubber without burningor unduly heating the same. Because of the factthat the Wheel is preferably formed of an integral steel member and iscase hardened, thereby having a-tougher core, there i no danger that thewheel may'accidentally disintegrate, as with conventional bondedgrinding wheels and, hence, both the peripheryand the sides of the wheelmay be used for removingmatelial. As the wheel-of the invention iscapable of safely resisting lateral forces the wheel is much moreversatile in use than conventional grinding wheels and the work maybevery rapidly fed into the wheel if it isdesired'to rapidly remove'aconsiderable amount of material therefrom. Thewheel of the invention maybe used in place of a millingtool wheel in many, instances where it isdesired to remove substantial amounts of metal "and, theteethascrape,rather than cut or bit into the work, the work may be held. in the handwithout the wheel. fgrabbing and will; run smoothly without loading upwith :chips. The teeth may be formed in the wheel byusing: aconventional tool such as :a milling cutter, or in high'production thewheel may be formed by stamping or rolling processes and, hence,manufactured at low cost] The wheel of the invention may be produced inmany'dilferent sizes without departing from the scope thereof, andit'will be understood that various modifications'to the invention may beapparentto those skilled in the without ideparting from the spiritan'dxscope thereof.

I claim: 7 I e In a high speed rotating metal removing tool compris inga substantially planar wheel having a peripheral portron and sideportions on opposite sides of said wheel ad acent and intersecting saidperipheral portion,- a plural ity of teeth formed on said peripheral andside portions, said teeth being formed by a plurality of adjacentidentical concave cylindrically surfaced grooves, the axes of saidgrooves on said peripheralportion being parallel and spaced apart adistance less than twice the radius of the groove surfaces and thegrooves on said side'portions extending radially with respect .to saidwheel, the axes of said grooves lying outside the configuration of there- .tating wheel, said grooves intersecting adjacent grooves to formsaid teeth, the surfaces of said grooves defining the sides of saidteeth and the intersection thereof defining a metal removing edge suchthat the groove surface adjacent said edge defines a negative rakeangle, said grooves on said opposite sides of said wheel being inopposed relation whereby the teeth thereon are in opposed relation andthe edges of opposed teeth intersect a common edge formed on saidperipheral portion.

507,071 Hufi Oct. 17, 1893 6 Biesser Apr. 29, 1924 Jacobowitz May 31,1927 Bolinder July 3, 1928 Kaplan Jan. 8, 1946 Hansen May 13, 1952Schmidgall Oct. 22, 1957 Broom Nov. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS SwitzerlandApr. 16, 1936 Germany Feb. 14, 1929

